TheNintendo Wiilaunched in 2006 to massive success thanks to its comparatively low price tag and unique motion control functions that actually worked. Unfortunately, its online services left a lot to be desired and were eventually shut down in 2019.
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This has left a lot of games in the abyss of unbuyable titles. Most of these are WiiWare titles, a service that allowed for games with a small install size. Hopefully, these games will eventually get a re-release sometime in the future, because they are absolutely impossible to play unless fans bought them already. Many of these are still worth playing, too.
10Contra ReBirth
The ReBirth series brought back numerous titles in new ways. While many of these were remakes,Contra ReBirthwas an original title in the style of the oldContratitles. It feels like a true sequel continuing off fromwhere the oldContratitles left off.
It is terribly unfortunate Konami did not include it in the recently releasedContra Anniversary Collection. The most recent new entry,Contra: Rogue Corpsdid not receive nearly as positive a reception asReBirth.
9Excitebike: World Rally
The Nintendo Wii had two spiritual successors toExcitebike;ExcitetruckandExcitebots. However, the WiiWare service had aproper remake of the NES classic.
The game retains the classic gameplay but updates the visuals for 3D. There is even a track editor like in the original classic. The gameplay is simple, so don’t expect the depth of other racing games, but the simplicity lends itself to the bite-sized nature of the WiiWare service.
8Final Fantasy Chrystal Chronicles: My Life As A King
As the name implies,Final Fantasy Chrystal Chronicles: My Life as a Kingsees players control a humble king as he builds up his empire.
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It takes place in the same world asFinal Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, though one does not need to play the original to appreciateMy Life as a King.Final Fantasyhas delved into different genres throughout its existence but rarely has it done a city building simulator.
7Dr. Mario Online RX
At least this game has a similar incarnation on other consoles,including the Nintendo 3DS. There is not a lot to this game other than being yet another version ofDr. Mario, but the inclusion of online play was great for fans who wanted to test their mettle against others.
Even the Virus Buster mode from this version was included in later additions ofDr. Mario. All the same, it would be nice to have this version available if only for the sake of game preservation.
6Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth
ThisCastlevaniarelease is a remake of an old GameBoy title calledCastlevania: The Adventure. Fortunately, it is not a simple visual upgrade. It includes smoother gameplay and new weapons to use.
TheCastlevania Anniversary Collectionincludes the original Game Boy version ofCastlevania: The Adventure, but unfortunately, it lacks this remake. While it is great to have the original edition available on modern consoles, the remake should have been included as well.
5Fast Racing League
Nintendo has been lacking aproperF-Zerotitle since the GameCube. Fortunately,Fast Racing Leaguehelped pick up some of the slack by being a futuristic racer for the Nintendo Wii.
Unfortunately, anybody looking to find it today will have trouble, because it was released on the WiiWare service. At least it turned into a series that received sequels on the Wii U and Nintendo Switch, respectively.
4Art Style Series
Developer Skip Ltd is most notable for the Chibi Robo games. For the WiiWare service, the developer released a variety of games under theArt Stylename. Most of these are puzzle games featuring simple but beautiful graphics.
A couple of these also came out on Game Boy Advance or the Nintendo DS, but a couple of them are stuck in the oblivion of WiiWare. Skip Ltd has not put out any game in a long time, so their status as a company is currently unknown.
3WarioWare DIY Showcase
This WiiWare title is directly connected to the DS gameWarioWare DIY.This mobile title lets people create and share their own microgames. WithDIY Showcase, players could play their own and others' microgames on a big screen using the Nintendo Wii.
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Even if someone managed to keep this game saved on the Nintendo Wii, the online functions are down. Fortunately, theWarioWarefranchise is still around and recently received a new title on the Nintendo Switch.
2Dragon Quest X
It may seem impossible to believe, but the Nintendo Wii had a full-fledged MMORPG on the console in Japan.Dragon Quest Xis afull-fledged MMORPGthat started its life on the Nintendo Wii. It came out in 2012, already late into the Nintendo Wii’s life.
It was then ported to numerous other platforms, including PS4 and 3DS. The servers for the Nintendo Wii closed down in 2017. Unfortunately, the game was never available in the west, even though plenty of fans desperately want it to be localized.
1Virtual Console
While it is not a game, the Virtual Console service was a big draw for people to buy a Nintendo Wii. There were over 400 titles from Nintendo’s past and other retro consoles. When the Wii’s online functions ended, so did fans' ability to buy any of these classics.
It is doubly unfortunate because the Nintendo Switch’s offerings of classic titles are weaker in comparison and directly tied to the Switch Online service.The Wii U virtual consoleis still around, but it does not have everything the Wii’s service had.
